feeling the cold

[momander]

since I had a heart attack last April, I am now aware that I feel the cold very much more than I used to. I have always been a person that is warm, and hardly feels the cold, but now I am the opposite. Does anyone else feel like this?

[Beta70]

Yes I understand as I feel the cold so much more now than I did previously. Since having a TIA I have reduced my saturated fat intake as much as possible and wondered whether this had affected me. Also wondered if taking clopidogrel a blood thinner could have affected my body temperature. I doubt it will be the atorvastatin. On the other hand it could just be old age and lack of exercise!. I have treated myself to an electric heated throw for watching tv in the evenings and have been really pleased with it.

[gilreid1]

What medication taking. I also feel the cold more than before my bypass. GP put it down to medication. Aspirin Bisoprolol and Candesartan.

[momander in reply to gilreid1]

i take the usual cocktail of heart meds!!! aspirin, clopidogrel, bisoprolol and atorvastatin. could be the aspirin as clopidogrel is not technically a blood thinner, more of a platelet cleaner.

[Crochetwoman]

Hi, Bisoprolol can give this side effect. I wrote a post around last October complaining about “ winter coming” and moaning about getting cold hands, feet and nose every year when the temperature dropped.

After some good replies from here, I contacted my GP who reduced my Bisoprolol from 5mg to 2.75 mg. Sadly my body really didn’t like this and within 3 days my blood pressure was up at 200/80 from 135/75. I got Angina for the first time too.

After a “wee spa day”in Cardiology I was taken straight off Bisoprolol and started on Ivabradine twice a day. The cardiologist decided that with my cold extremities and also being fairly fit but unable to breath on climbing hills that this type of drug would be more suitable.

After a bit of an internal battle, all settled down and my b/p is now 120/70 and heart rate 65 ( from 75). I can climb easier and only get slightly cold now and again.

I believe there are also other types of beta blockers that you can try.

Go see your GP and discuss it with them. You don’t need to be cold! I waited 3 years because I just accepted what I was on.

[Seal59 in reply to Crochetwoman]

My husband had been cold for 3 years. I don’t know how many times he goes to the doctor (actually he doesn’t get to see him now, just the phone calls). But the doctor just doesn’t seem to want to try different medication. Instead he has referred him for an MRI on his brain, which seems a bit extreme!

[Crochetwoman in reply to Seal59]

I hope he gets warmer soon. We’re all different . Maybe the Gp can tell him why he’s not keen. Maybe the Cardiologist can be written to? Good luck

[Clerkenweller]

I had the same. It’s the drugs particularly the thinners. After a year or so it got better.

[Hoocher]

I take a cocktail of drugs since my HA 2.5 yrs ago and I now feel the cold , especially on my nose and fingers. I was also told aspirin and bisoprolol were the culprits. A small price to pay though if they help keep me healthy

[Hidden]

Hi, in winter I now have to wrap up warm and wear a scarf across my mouth when it's very cold. In summer, I have to ventilate the car and put the aircon on when it's quite warm outside.

I discussed this with the cardiologist and its normal as your heart is made to work harder in extremes of temperature. This is because your blood vessels in your skin act as coolant / radiators thereby putting more pressure on your heart to pump the blood to them.

It's useful to know because I'm now careful about booking holidays at certain times and places in the year.

Hope this helps 👍😊

[MountainGoat52]

Although I'm still a teeshirt wearer in the winter, I definitely feel the cold more now. I put it down to the aspirin and beta blocker. The beta blocker actually plays hell with my Reynauds and more or less every day I get white fingers at some point. My toes are always cold. It's just part of life. 😀

[Hidden]

I’m always cold 🥶 Have a chilblain on my hand after wearing gloves yesterday when outdoors for less than an hour. And I live in a feeezing flat 🧊.

So if ever I noticed I was feeling warm it’d be unusual enough for me to wonder why.

It looks like a lot of people notice feeling the cold more while on certain medication. Hopefully you can speak with your dr about alternatives if you need to.

N

[Jules2021]

Hi. My heart attack was April too and i am now constantly freezing! Especially my hands and my legs. When i go outside and get cold it takes ages to warm up again. I think its to do with the medication. Julie x

[Midsummerm2022]

Hi, I had my heart attack / cardiac arrest last August, am on the usual tablets. I have always been warm but this winter I am constantly feeling cold, I put it down to the tablets. Fiona x

[momander in reply to Midsummerm2022]

Hi,Yes I think you are right!!! Isn't it strange how tablets can affect some of us? I have always been a warm person, able to be in a light tee shirt all day!!! now I need a jumper!!! I would rather have that than a heart condition though so I am very grateful. It is good to know that others feel the same though!!! stops me thinking it could be something else!!!

[Pilatesman]

Exactly. Whenever I’m asked what changes have you experienced since your HA I respond I sleep longer and feel the cold more.I have told myself this is the result of blood thinners which I hope will stop in October and so am waiting until then.

Otherwise I’m doing lots of exercising and following the med instructions

[Pilatesman]

Reading the replies here it seems a lot of folks relate feeling cold to blood thinners. As we are told that one year in we will be taken off blood thinners can anyone confirm that when they stop taking this medication they have reverted to a warmer body ???

[Crochetwoman in reply to Pilatesman]

I can confirm that it made no difference to me. After 3 years I was changed from Bisoprolol to Ivabradine. Wish I had mentioned it sooner. Just slightly cold now. But my heart is still ticking ☺️

[momander in reply to Pilatesman]

Both my cardiologist and GP have told me I will be on blood thinners for life!? No mention of coming of them after a year